Stranger audio and video:

News & Arts

Politics
Bush Signs Piracy Bill into Law

posted by
Grant Brissey
on
October 14 at
9:30 AM

George W. Bush signed into law Monday a seemingly wasteful bill that purports to toughen penalties on movie and music piracy at the federal level.

The law creates an intellectual property czar who will report directly to the president on how to better protect copyrights both domestically and internationally. The Justice Department had opposed the creation of this position.

The Justice Department had said the position would undermine its authority.

The law also toughens criminal laws against piracy and counterfeiting.

The Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America backed the bill, as did the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.